Doozy Times in Seattle

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by Arundhati Basu

We spent five short days in the Pacific Northwest with my sister-in-law and her lovely family, and even though five as a number is short — it felt short — it was enriching within a tight span of time.

Enrichment came our way through activities. We chatted endlessly, baked and cooked, when we were not tripping over to the city’s iconic marketplace to gather fragrant spices and delicious cheese, sipping on hot apple cider, tasting moreish butter, and buying braids of garlic and chillies that did the singular job of elevating our hearts to our mouths with the amount they cost (oh, but they are beauties). Amongst all of this was the scenic presence Mount Rainier, with its upturned conical tip sheathed in snow, and the Olympic ranges. A band of photogenic siblings.

The sun was shining, and the days were spectacularly cold, but boy, they added sass to the time spent outside.

To mitigate the chill, we slurped on Taiwanese food. Mere broth and garlic, yet divine. Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings for the rest of us) and Sichuan noodles stole the highlight simply because we had never had them before.

Novelty is a cracking thing. You always remember that first trip you ever took, that first time you explored a new place and came across things alien to your culture, met a person who turned out to be a beloved figure in your life,…you never forget those, do you? The Taiwanese meal had left its impression upon us, indelibly.

Now, Seattle for us inevitably means Snohomish. A place the father-in-law chanced upon during a golfing trip and introduced the sister-in-law to. Ever since, she has been a fixture there. It’s her pick-me-up, a no-brainer, according to her. Snohomish has an assortment of shops that deal in antiques, time-worn, quirky objects that make your heart flutter with want. Safe to say, we have never returned empty-handed from there.

The nephew and niece have grown up a fair bit. If the little missy is all for mathematics, reading and baking — she made us delicious mini brownie pizzas — the nephew is a level-headed teenager with none of the angst of one yet. From them, we gained new knowledge. Of the concept of sneakerheads. We had zero idea of this. You can call it a subculture, if you please. Sneakerheads are sneaker collectors who like to accumulate limited edition shoes and even vintage ones. They then swap or sell them for exorbitant prices. There are other little details culled from the mouth of these babes that made my mind tumble and stumble, but they escape me now.

We wrapped it all up with a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner, decorated the Christmas tree, and nibbled into a sticky and lovely Christmas cake, the best I have ever had. It was baked by the sister-in-law’s neighbour. It was shattering and I cannot wait to replicate its goodness.

Now that I am back to reality, it is unsettling, but it is acceptable because Christmas is around the corner. The city has gone the festive route. We got our first batch of snow too yesterday, big chunky flakes that drove through the day, changing directions, and in all of it, through the slush that resulted on the pavements of New York City, I was out to meet a blogger. She turned out to be as humorous as her blog and wonderful company because the hours sped by as we prattled.

That’s the beginning of December for me. I cannot wait to see what else it brings.

I am hoping for more Christmas cake and snow.

Iconic Pike Place signage
The iconic Pike Place signage
Matt's in the Market at Pike Place
Matt’s in the Market at Pike Place
Spices at Pike Place
Spices at Pike Place
Tiramisu from the Chinese bakery 85°. Astonishingly good.
Spicy Sichuan soup @ Din Tai Fung
Taiwanese soup dumplings @ Din Tai Fung
A chilly break from Black Friday shopping at a shingle beach in Kirkland
Sunset trio at Kirkland
Tag!
Brother-sister act at the gardening-decor store, Molbak’s.
Christmas windows at Snohomish
Rummaging for vintage
Green touch
Why we are enamoured of Snohomosh
The Snohomish Santa
Christmas tree at sister-in-law’s
Christmassy note at Seattle airport

Published by

Arundhati Basu

The great affair in my life is to travel. I count myself immensely fortunate that my partner shares this passion. We are a team that likes to spend time planning and plotting out places to go. Destination check, flights check, accommodation check, cheesy grins check. Off we go.

48 thoughts on “Doozy Times in Seattle”

  2. You obviously had a fabulous five-day trip. Seattle looks lovely, my husband’s cousin lives there and I’m thinking a visit might be overdue, I too met up with a fellow blogger yesterday. We had an epic chat. It was as if we’d known one another for years. 😎

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    1. Ahem, what a coincidence! 🙂 Rather a neat one. Maybe someday in Nice or Figueres. 😀
      Seattle is so scenic that a visit is well worth it, I think, in any season.
      How glorious it was today! Hope you are enjoying pottering around the city. xx

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      2. It was snowing furiously in Portland where Adi is. I am a bit envious, but also embracing the clear skies. 🙂

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      4. He sat on the tarmac for the longest time and after more than a couple of delays. I do hope luck holds better for him on Friday.

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  3. It sounds like you had such a wonderful time in the Pacific Northwest. I really enjoyed reading about your adventures and seeing pictures. I hope you will have a lovely December!

    ❤ Alana

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    1. Hi Alana, thank you for the sweet wishes and taking the time to read my rambles. I hope you have a fabulous month too. xx

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      1. I really enjoy your writing style. I feel like I am traveling whenever I visit your blog. xx

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  4. I always enjoy reading your writing and seeing your fabulous photos, which capture the holiday spirit so evident in the Pacific Northwest, and at Pike’s Place in particular. I hope you continue to enjoy your holidays, snow and all. 🙂

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    1. Thank you! The pleasure is mutual. I am looking forward to hopping over to your blog and read yours. I bet there is a whole lot waiting for me.

      Pike Place is one of my favourite markets in the world. It feels festive in any season. I wish you a wonderful time this holiday season. The cheer is infectious. 🙂 xx

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    1. Thank you Caroline! I read your latest and am due to pop back to it. Because I read it and had to abandon it before leaving a comment. I wish you all of the goodies this holiday along with enough mulled wine to take the chill from it. xx

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    1. Hey V, do you get any of the comments I leave on your posts? I wonder. Anyway, thanks for returning always. 🙂 Holidays are to be spent in the city, nesting and traipsing around. What are yours? Xx

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  7. Sounds like you had a fun time with your nephew and niece. Oh sneakers! Tell me about it. My kids (esp my teen) know so much about them as well. Hahah… Indeed Christmas is just around the corner and as usual, I look forward to your Christmas post 🙂 Is it going to by NY? 🙂

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    1. Oh yes, NYC alright, because I travel to India at the very beginning of the new year. I love Christmas at home, and really, this is just perfect. Though Adi has been moaning about the Christmas markets of Europe. He says it is not Christmas without them! 😛 I told him to put a lid on it and not sound like a spoilt brat. What is your jam this time?

      I bet your kids enlighten you all the time about the latest in the world of teenagers. 😉 xx

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      1. Give in to Adi! It’s actually a good idea hahah. We’re headed to the Philippines starting next week, trek a couple of volcanoes this time and do a bit of snorkeling. It’s gonna be a hot Christmas.

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      2. Whoa trekking volcanoes sounds like my cuppa tea. You go girl! (I would stand on top and beat my chest and finish it all up with a gigantic mug of beer) Is any of it going to figure in your scheme of things?

        I would give into the husband’s demands, but I am rather into nesting, before I leave home for more than a couple of weeks. xx

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  8. Loving the photo of your niece and nephew playing tag. Wish I could be that young again! Great blogpost. Hope you and Adi have a wonderful holiday season. – Neek

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    1. I know what you mean, Neek. It is the pick of the lot for me too! 🙂 We are making the most of it even though Adi is busy with work. How about you all? xx

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      1. We’re doing fine! Lex’s mother is coming to visit us for the New Year so we’re excited about that. Hope you are doing well also.

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      2. It will be a great way to usher in the new year, Neek! You guys have a wonderful season. We are doing well, thank you. Cannot wait for Adi to wrap up work and then take to the streets of the city for Christmas-window gawping. xx

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    1. And baked by a Chinese bakery! What do you know? 😀 Thank you, Jo. Wishing you a happy jolly Christmas too! xx

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  10. Enjoyed reading this post, it sounds like you had a wonderful time with your niece & nephew, and the Tiramisu looks gorgeous. 🙂 Wish you a very merry Christmas!

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    1. You have a happy Christmas too, love! It has been a wonderful countdown to Christmas for us so far. 🙂

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  11. A lovely post and pictures. Your nephew is tallll! (But then I suspect your husband is too…)
    Hair growing longer?
    Some of the food you showed was just too mouth-watering…
    Fir milenge ma’maji.

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    1. You suspect right. Nephew follows in his uncle’s footsteps and wants to shoot past the 6’2” mark.
      Hair growing longer indeed. A nice change from a prolonged bout of shorty short locks.
      The food was absolutely divine. On cold grey days, I dream of these dishes.
      Thank you for dropping by, Brianji. 🙂

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  15. I’ve been travelling myself and trying hard to settle back into my own city…your beautiful post echoes what I just experienced in London, England! Here’s to a fabulous February…

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  16. Sounds like you had a lovely trip! This Snohomish place looks so cool!!
    Hopefully Snohomish’s Santa got up in time for Christmas :D!
    Thanks for sharing :)!

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  17. It was lovely to read your blog and relate to the time spent together with family. Vacation is one of my favourite times to enjoy with family amidst all the usual chaos. We still have confusion, but with many people around, everything looks delightful. Thanks for taking us on a memory ride through your words.

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